St Mary’s University College Belfast was delighted to welcome more than 260 guests on Friday 6 November 2026 for a memorable celebration of one of the most remarkable periods in Antrim’s Gaelic football history.

Organised by Antrim GAA, The Story of Antrim’s Greatest Football Team – A History of Antrim Football 1926–1946 brought together GAA representatives, historians, families of former players and supporters from across the county. The occasion marked the centenary of Antrim’s historic 1926 football achievements and the 80th anniversary of the county’s 1946 Ulster Senior Football Championship triumph.

The evening in the College Hall was compered by Paul McErlean, whose anecdotes added warmth and colour to the programme. County Chairperson Seamus McMullan thanked organiser Hugh McGettigan and all those attending, emphasising the importance of preserving and sharing Gaelic games history at club and county level. Proceedings opened with a video from main sponsors Eastwood Demolition, whose longstanding association with Antrim includes involvement in the construction of the Casement Park stand in the 1950s.

Paul McErlean, compere for the evening.

Renowned GAA historian and author Dónal McAnallen delivered the keynote lecture, tracing Antrim football from the 1920s to the celebrated 1946 side. He explored the significance of the 1926 team, including Antrim’s claim to the first Dr McKenna Cup, and the challenges faced by players who were required to play almost all their matches outside the county. Turning to 1946, he reflected on the team’s distinctive hand-passing and running style and its controversial All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Kerry, including the unsuccessful appeal that followed.

Among the guests was award-winning Irish Times sports journalist Johnny Watterson, who travelled from Dublin to attend. His father, George Watterson, captained the 1946 Antrim team, and Johnny had highlighted its anniversary in his newspaper column earlier this year.

GAA historian Dónal McAnallen with sports journalist Johnny Watterson.

One of the most poignant aspects of the evening was the contribution of descendants of the players. A discussion featured the Bishop of Down and Connor, Most Reverend Alan McGuckian SJ, whose uncle Patsy played on the 1926 team; Eithne Cunning, daughter of Paddy Cunning, an early exponent of the solo run; Pat Armstrong, son of Kevin Armstrong; and John McKeown, whose father Pat McKeown of Creggan was an outstanding dual player. With families representing almost all members of the 1946 team, the occasion offered a special opportunity to share memories and celebrate a remarkable sporting legacy.

Discussion panel: Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, Eithne Cunning, Pat Armstrong and John McKeown

Members of the Armstrong family at the celebration.

Members of the McAteer family at the celebration.

Music provided another memorable dimension. Dr Angela Feeney, the Germany-based soprano whose father Billy played for Antrim and St John’s and was a member of the 1946 championship side, opened with “Fill a Rún Ó”. A former All-Ireland Scór winner, she returned to close the evening with “Habanera” from Bizet’s Carmen, reflecting the close connections between Gaelic games, Irish culture and the performing arts.

Dr Angela Feeney with Antrim GAA County Chairperson Seamus McMullan.

A specially produced 64-page souvenir programme, compiled by Hugh McGettigan, provided a lasting record of the era, with accounts of significant matches, profiles of the 1946 players and the story of Antrim’s appeal following the Kerry semi-final. It also recalled Ulster’s 1947 Railway Cup victory, when eight Antrim players featured in the winning side captained by Kevin Armstrong.

For St Mary’s, hosting this special occasion reflected the College’s longstanding commitment to community engagement and the promotion of Irish culture, sport and heritage. The gathering demonstrated the power of shared history to bring generations together, honour sporting achievement and strengthen connections across the community.

The celebration has continued beyond the College through video highlights and reflections shared by Antrim GAA, helping these stories reach a wider audience.